Overall Trends
Total, fatal, and serious accidents in the selected range.
Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.
Fast key and full-text search with live filters, watches, and precise metadata.
Use quotes for exact phrase matches (for example "fuel selector valve").
Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.
Major cases, deep-report coverage, and investigation media across decades of NTSB history.
Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.
NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.
The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.
The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.
Prestonsburg, KY
The airplane was in level flight at 3,000 feet, when the engine began to run rough. The pilot cycled the magneto switch and noted no changes in the engine performance. He then observed the oil pressure gauge in the "zero" position. The engine then lost total power, and a forced landing was performed to a field. When the engine was examined, a 2-inch hole in top of the engine crankcase was noted. The connecting rod and camshaft area of the number four cylinder has sustained extreme heating. The bottom half of the connecting rod was bent out of shape, with one of the rod end bolts remaining wedged in the rod end. The other rod end bolt was missing. No evidence of oil leakage was observed. The engine had accumulated about 2,400 hours of operation since its last overhaul. An annual inspection of the engine was performed about 3 months prior to the accident. A 50-hour inspection, which included servicing the engine with 7 quarts of oil, was conducted 2 days prior to the accident.
The loss of oil pressure for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a failure of connecting rod end bolts, due to an over temperature condition.
On November 23, 2002, about 1630 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172K, N7192G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after experiencing a total loss of engine power near Prestonsburg, Kentucky. The certificated flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the flight had departed the Paintsville-Prestonsburg-Combs Airport, Paintsville, Kentucky, about 1600. While in cruise flight, at 3,000 feet, the engine began to run rough. The pilot cycled the magneto switch and noted no changes in the engine performance. He then observed the oil pressure gauge in the "zero" position. The engine then lost total power, and a forced landing was performed to a field. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane after the accident, and observed substantial damage to the engine firewall, and the fuselage. The inspector also noted a 2-inch hole in top of the engine crankcase. Further examination of the engine revealed that the connecting rod and camshaft area of the number 4 cylinder had sustained extreme heating. The bottom half of the connecting rod was bent out of shape, with one of the rod end bolts remaining wedged in the rod end. The other rod end bolt was missing. The oil screen was removed, and small amounts of metal were observed trapped in the screen. Metal parts were also observed in the oil pan. There was no evidence of oil leakage. The engine had accumulated about 2,400 hours of operation since it's last overhaul conducted in 1986. An annual inspection of the airframe and engine was performed on August 23, 2002. A 50-hour inspection, which included servicing the engine with 7 quarts of oil, was conducted on November 21, 2002.